Kaplan University offers over 180 degree and certificate programs all available to military, veterans, and spouses of active duty members. In addition, several programs have been developed to complement specific military occupations or programs established by the military.

Open College at Kaplan University (OC@KU) offers individualized, affordable education that integrates technology and personalized service to help learners meet their career, academic, and personal goals.

Choosing a Nursing Specialty

Whether you are a new graduate nurse or a seasoned nurse completing
further schooling, there are similarities when considering a specialty. Understanding
your strengths and weaknesses will help you identify opportunities and avoid
imprudent career choices.

As a graduate nurse, after completing and passing the National Council
Licensure Examination (NCLEX), the title of Registered Nurse (RN) is yours.
Clinical and practicum experiences offered insight into various areas for
specialization including pediatrics, adult medicine, cardiology, oncology,
maternal health, and emergency medicine to name a few. Many of these
specialized areas offer acute care and primary care. For example, in pediatrics,
positions can be in newborn nurseries, school clinics, private pediatric
offices, county health department, child protection teams, pediatric inpatient
units, intensive care units, surgery, and outpatient clinics.

As an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), the track of Kaplan
University’s Master of Science in Nursing study
plan may narrow the specialization but there are still many other areas to
explore. For instance, as a family nurse practitioner-primary care track, areas
of specialization can range from pediatrics to geriatrics, from acute care to
primary care.

Choosing Your Specialty

One important factor to consider in choosing your specialty is to delve
within, identifying your personality and interests. There is some correlation
between personality characteristics, nursing specialty choice, burnout, and job
satisfaction as well as levels of nursing stress and burnout (Kennedy, Curtis,
& Waters, 2014). For example, in a study of critical and intensive care nurses, the personality domain
scores were higher for self-sufficiency and thinking. This would correlate with
the ability to work independently while managing all aspects of care for a
critically ill patient.

The benefits of focusing on a specialty are plentiful, including
increased self-worth, respect, recognition as well as the potential for increased
job security, marketability, and satisfaction. Other elements to consider
include your:

level of technology savvy

location and the availability of desired
positions

potential for relocation, and

comfort level with people.

Do you like the challenge of expecting the unexpected? You may be most
successful in areas such as intensive care units or emergency rooms. Do you
have a special skill of caring for children and a strength in talking with
families? Pediatrics may be your specialty. The beauty of nursing is that, as
you discover areas that are of interest to you, the opportunities are abundant.

Job Outlook for Nurses

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the growth of employment as an
RN will continue to increase by 16% from 2014 to 2024, due to a number of factors including the concentration on preventative care and the
increased rates of chronic conditions (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015).
The growth of APRN employment is expected to increase 31% from 2014 to 2024,
due to a number of factors including the effects of health care legislation and
the increased focus on preventative care (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015).
These impressive statistics are well above the average rates of many other
occupations and could indicate increased job security of nurses at all levels.

Nurses have a strong need for relevance in their lives, in what we do and
how it makes a difference. Find your niche and believe that YOU can make that
difference. Be the voice, be the change and, always remember that you don’t DO
nursing, you ARE nursing!

Michele N. Pedulla is a
graduate nursing professor at Kaplan University School of Nursing. The
views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not
represent the view of Kaplan University.

Kaplan University offers over 180 degree and certificate programs all available to military, veterans, and spouses of active duty members. In addition, several programs have been developed to complement specific military occupations or programs established by the military.

Open College at Kaplan University (OC@KU) offers individualized, affordable education that integrates technology and personalized service to help learners meet their career, academic, and personal goals.